Card-index device



May 27 1924.

J. H. RAND. JR

CARD INDEX DEVICE Filed 0c 15. /0 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 27', 1924.1,495,646

J. H. RAND. JR

CARD INDEX DEVICE Filed Oct. 15. 1923 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 f- /02- PatentedMay 27; 1924. I l

UNITED STATES gJ'AMES H. RANT), JR., OF TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

CARD-INDEX DEVICE.

Application filed October 15, 1923. Serial Ito. 668,632.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. RAND, Jr., a citizen of the United States,residin at Tonawanda, in the county of Erie and tate of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Card-Index Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to card indices and more particularly to thattype of index in which a plurality of members or cards are maintained inoverlapping arrangement in a tray or drawer with the edges of the cardsprojecting one beyond the other.

In indices of this kind members have been provided having means forattachment to the supporting tray, which members are adapted to haveindex or record matter transcribed thereon, or to support separate cardsor other devices which bear the index or record matter.

The present invention relates more particularly to index members {ofrelatively large size, which are adapted to present a considerableexpanse of record-receiving surface or to support relatively large cardsfor bearing the recorded matter, or a considerable number of smallercards presenting in the aggregate a large record-receiving surface.

Heretofore, in indices of the type referred to, record-carrying membershave been provided comprising, generally. an attaching portion havingtongues or other devices for attachment to a support and arecord-receiving or card-holding portion secured to one side of theattaching portion, and preferably hinged so that the record-receiving orcard-supporting portion may be swung about the attaching portion.The-connection between the record-receiving portion and the attachingportion has usually been by means of suitable staples or wires, and theattaching portion extends a distance along the record-receiving portion,thus providing a flap between which and the record-receiving portion thehead of an adjacent member may be inserted, whereby the members nest andare maintained in overlapping arrangement. This construction with theparts of the attaching portion and the record-receiving portionsuperposed and connected by staples, has proved impractical where thedevices are of relatively large size, among the reasons for this beingthat the heads of the devices when inserted between the flaps and therecord-receiving portions of adjacent devices place an undue strainupon. the connections between the attaching portions and therecord-receiving portions of the devices, and upon the relativelylight-weight record-receiving portions of which these devices'areusually made, and tend to destroy the connection between the attachingportions and the record-receiving portions. Further, in a device oflarge size,

practical means have not been provided for effectively securing largesized cards on the record receiving portions. In devices of this kind,it is essential that, while the devices should be removably but firmlyheld on their support, the record-receiving portions be of relativelylight, preferably flexible material, whereby a large numberof thedevices may be maintained in the index without undue bulk and may bereadily swung or otherwise handled.

The objects of the present invention are to provide improvements inindex devices of the typereferred to, whereby the members may be nestedor maintained in overlapping arrangement and readily handled and movedwithout the liability of injurln the record members; also to provide inex devices of this type of relatively great strength and which willadequately support relatively large cards or other devices; also toprovide improvements in retaining tabs for devices of this sort; andalso to provide improvements in index devices in the other respectshereinafter set forth and claimed. J

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an index. illustrating the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the improved record-carryingmembers.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of one of the record -carrying members withportions broken away to show the construction.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a slightly modified form of the record-carrying member.

Fig. 6 is a view of the record-carrying member shown in Fig, 5. with thehinged portion thrown back to show the cards on the rear thereof.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7, Fig. 5.

In the present invention, there is provided a device having an attachingmember of relatively heavy material and which is relatively stifi orrigid so that it will firmly hold the devices in position in thesupporting tra or drawer and which is so connected to t erecord-receiving portion that there is no possibility of the heads ofthe other devices in nesting destroying the connection between theattaching portion and the record-receiving portion.

In the drawings, A represents a suitable tray or supporting member whichis provided with the usual side flanges B beneath which the tongues orother parts of the record device are adapted to engage and whereby thedevices are maintained in osition in the tray. The improved recorddevices have attaching portions 10 preferably formed of relativelystiff, heavy material, and record-receiving portions 11 preferablyhinged to the attaching portions 10. The record-receiving portions 11may have the index or record matter directly transcribed thereon or mayreceive and hold separate cards 12 for the purpose of receiving therecord or index matter. The attaching po-rof the attaching portionprovides an upper side 14 and a lower side 15, the lower side 15preferably extending a distance along the record-receiving portion, thusproviding a flap so that the head or attaching portion of an adjacentdevice may be inserted between that flap and the record-receivingportion for nesting the devices. The record-receiving portion 12 and thefolded attaching por: tion 10 are secured together by suitable means,such, for example, as the staples 16 and the upper side 14 of theattaching portion preferably extends a distance below the staple orconnecting means 16 so as to brace or reinforce the record-receivingportion. It will be noted from the construction described that when theattaching portion of rigid parts of the attaching portion and do racemesnot tend to tear the relatively light v .ght record-receiving portionsfrom the staples or attaching means. At the same time, the formation ofthe attaching portion in a sheath or channel form, and the connection ofthe sides of the sheath or channel by means of the staples, presents avery strong and relatively rigid attaching portion which may be of veryconsiderable length and resists flexing or bending forces to an extentto efliciently maintain the tongues in position under the side flangesof the tray or drawer.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the recordreceiving portions may be providedat their lower edges, if desired, with transparent pockets or sheaths 17which are adapted to receive the lower ends of cards or other memberssupported on the record-receiving portions. Thesevpockets or sheaths 17,if used, may be connected to the devices in any suitable manner, as bymeans of staples 18, The record-receiving portion may be providedadjacent its upper end with suitable parts for holding the upper edgesof cards or the like, as, for example, the slits 19 shown in Figs. 1 and2. In addition, it is desirable when these devices are of a relativelylarge size to provide means for engaging the upper edge of the cards orother members between the ends thereof so as to prevent the upper edgeof the card buckling at its center or projecting outwardly and therebyinterfering with the other devices in the index. For this purpose therecordreceiving portion is provided with a suitable part or tab 20secured in superimposition on the holder by a securing device which isadapted to contact with the ed e of a record member, card, or the like.s illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, it is preferred to form this tab of anintegral part of the record-receiving portion as by cutting or stampingthe tab or tongue out of such portion and bending the same downwardlyand securing it in downwardly folded position by means of a suitablesecuring device, as for example, the staple 21. In use, the lower edgesof the cards or other record members may be readily inserted in thepockets of the card-receiving portions and the vupper edges of the cardssprung to position beneath the tabs 20 and the upper end edges thensprung into positions into the slits 19, whereby the cards will befirmly held inposition. The folded over tab 20 may be readily formed andis long lived as the upper edge of the card bears on the securing stapleor wire 21 and not on the material of the tab. The securing member orstaple also limits the distance the record member or card may beinserted under the tab. There is, therefore, no likelihood that the edgeof the record member or one-piece portion in the form of a channel orsheath provides an unbroken, relatively smooth, upper edge 22,presenting no parts for entanglement with portions of other devices inthe index.

As illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, the provision of thisdevice'with its im proved attaching portion, renders it possible toprovide a record-receiving portion'of such expanse as to accommodate alarge number of separate cards or other recordreceiving devices, ifdesired. As illustrated in these figures, a plurality of cards are. tobe spaced transversely on the record-receiving portion. The attachingportion 10 is preferably provided .With the flaps heretofore described,and the record-receiving portion 11 is preferably provided with aplurality of ppckets 17 at its lower edge. As illustrated, these pocketsmay be formed by one continuous sheath of suitable transparent materialstraddling the lower edge of the record-receiving portion which may beheld in placeby a plurality of spaced staples or other securing devices18. Any desired number of these pockets may be provided, three beingillustrated in the embodiment shown, the transparent sheath and thestaples providing pockets at the front side of the record-receivingportion,

as shown in Fig. 5, and also at the rear side as shown in Fig. 6. Inthis form the record-receiving portions are rovided with suitable slitsor apertures 19 1n their upper portions for receiving the upper edges ofthe cards. As illustrated, one set of slits may be provided forreceiving the edges of the cards on the front of the device andanotherset for receiving the edges of the cardson the rear side of the device.

I claim as my invention:

1; An index or record device having attaching means and record-receivingmeans, said attaching means having parts adapted to be connected to asupport and comprising a single piece of relatively stifi materialfolded to extend along the front and rear sides of said record-receivingmeans, means for connecting said front and rear portions of theattaching means together and to the record-receiving'means, one of saidportions extending a distance below said connecting means and providinga flap for nesting said devices together.

2. In an'index or record device, the combination of an attaching portionand a record-receiving portion, said attaching portion comprising asingle piece of relatively heavy, stifi' material folded to straddle anedge of said record-receiving portion, means connecting said attachingportion to said record-receiving portion, said attaching portion havinga part at one side of said record-receiving portion extending a distanceinwardly of said record-receiving portion and providinga flap forengaging the head of an adjacent record device; whereby the devicesmaybe nested.

In an index or record device, the combination of an attaching portionhaving parts adapted to releasably connect said device to a support, anda record-receiving portion, said attaching portion comprising anintegral channel-shaped piece of relatively heavy material straddling anedge of said record-receiving portion, said record-receiving portionbeing connected to said attaching portion in its channel, a pocketadjacent the opposite edge of said record-receiving portion forreceiving and holding an edge of a card placed thereon, and parts onsaid record-receiving portion adjacent said attaching portion forholding an oplposite edge of said card.

4. 11 an index or record device, the combination of an attaching portionhaving parts adapted to releasably connect said device to'a support, anda record-receiving portion, said attaching portion comprising anintegral channel-shaped piece of relatively heavy material straddling anedge of said'record-recciving portion, said record-receiving portionbeing connected to said attaching portion in its channel, a pocketadjacent the opposite edge of said record-receiving portion forreceiving and holding an edge of a card placed thereon, and a tab onsaid record-receiving portion adjacent said attaching portion forengaging an opposite edge of said card.

5. In an index or record device, the combination of an attaching portionhaving parts adapted to releasablyconnect said device to a support, anda record-receiving portion, said attaching portion comprising anintegral channel-shaped. piece of relatively avy material straddling anedge of said record-receiving portion, said record ,receiving portionbeing connected. to said attaching portion in its channel, a pocketadjacent the opposite edge of'said recordreceiving portion for receivingand holding an ed e of a card placed thereon, and an integr 1 tabprojecting from said recordreceiving portion adjacent said attachingportion for engaging an opposite edge of said card.

6. In an index or record device, the combination of an attaching portionhaving. parts adapted to releasably connect said device to a support,and a record-receiving portion, said attaching portion comprising anintegral channel-shaped piece of relatively heavy material straddling anedge of said record-receiving portion, said recordreceiving portionbeing connected to said,

attaching portion in its channel, a pocket adjacent the opposite edge ofsaid ecordreceiving ortion for receiving and holding an edge of a cardsecured in superposed position thereon, and a tab on saidrecord-receiving portion adjacent said attaching portion.

7. lln an index or record device, the combination of an attachingportion having parts adapted to releasably connect said device to asupport, and a record-receiving portion, said attaching portioncomprising an integral channel-shaped piece of relatively heavy materialstraddling an edge of said record-receiving portion, saidrecordreceiving portion being connected to said attaching portion in itschannel, a part on said record-receiving portion adjacent its edgeopposite from said attaching portion for holding an edge of a cardthereon, and said record-receiving portion being formed withslits'adjacent said attaching portion for holding an opposite edge ofthe ,card.

8. In an index or record device, a holder having means for attachment toa support, a holding tab superimposed on said holder whereby an edge ofa card to be held is received beneath said tab, and a staple securingsaid tab in superimposition on said holder and adapted to contact withthe edge of the card inserted under said tab, Where by the Wear is takenon said staple.

an. reeaeee 9. In an index or record device, a holder havlng means forattachment to a support an integral cut-out tab on said holder bent overto superimposition on said holder, a securing member connecting said tabto said holder and adapted to contact with the edge of a removablerecord member inserted beneath said tab, whereby the wear is takenadapted to carry a record member, a tab superimposed on said holder andhaving a free edge beneath which an edge of a record member may beinserted to releasably retain said record member on the holder, asecuring member connecting said tab to the holder and having a partadapted to contact With an edge of said record member to limit thedistance said record member may be inserted beneath said tab and preventing said record member edge from cutting or wearing the material of saidtab or holder.

James H. earn, JR.

